They said you can't play basketball with a scarf: Who is Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir?
In the place where basketball was born, at her most productive and successful age, she was left out of the basket due to the meaningless headscarf ban imposed by FIBA. She returned to the field after a four-year ban.
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, who was born to an African Muslim family in Massachusetts, USA, the birthplace of basketball, is the youngest of eight siblings. Abdul-Qaadir, whose love of basketball started when she first picked up a ball at the age of four, has dreamed of playing professional basketball since childhood. Her determination, her courage, and her passion threw her into the basketball courts with her invincible spirit. Abdul-Qaadir, who has won championships at the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, still holds the state's high school career record for both boys and girls to this day. Abdul-Qaadir subsequently became the first woman to wear a headscarf while playing NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Memphis and later at Indiana State University. But just as Abdul-Qaadir's professional career was about to take off, her dreams were cut short when the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced that "no player may wear a headscarf during matches", which forced her to choose between playing and wearing a headscarf. Abdul-Qaadir was the first basketball player to wear a headscarf in the US and her future looked bright, but at the age of 24, she found herself at a crossroads. By refusing to choose, Abdul-Qaadir defied the rule banning the headscarf. She said goodbye to basketball, which she loved very much, rather than living in contradiction with her faith.
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (born 11 November 1990) is an American former collegiate basketball player. She was notable for playing basketball while wearing a hijab, a headscarf for Muslim women. Abdul-Qaadir scored 3,070 points in her high school career, setting the all-time scoring record in Massachusetts. She played four years of college basketball for the University of Memphis.
Abdul-Qaadir may have ended her dream, but that didn't mean she stopped fighting for her rights. She quit basketball but never stopped fighting for her rights. Although she cannot fight on the basketball courts, she is fighting for the rights of both herself and those like her in the field of life. “After choosing not to play, my ultimate goal was to teach basketball to as many young Muslim girls as possible,” she says. Abdul-Qaadir is currently a motivational speaker and basketball coach.
An interview with Abdul-Qaadir was published in the conservative Yeni Şafak newspaper published in Turkey. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
How did you step into the world of basketball? Was it your dream or did coincidences lead you?
Basketball was invented in the town of Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. We are four brothers and three sisters and I am the youngest. Everyone was playing basketball back then. I also started playing basketball when I was four years old and realized I was pretty good at 11-12. I fell in love with basketball. As I mentioned, I was born and raised where basketball was born and we were a family of basketball players. My family has always been my support. Mainly my brothers supported me a lot. For example, when I shot a shot, they were angry with me when there was no basket.
How did you feel when you went to the basketball court for the first time professionally?
When I played my first game wearing a headscarf, I forgot that I was wearing a headscarf and focused only on my game to win. But then when there was a gap, when I looked around, people would point at me and point to my hijab. I was exposed to people making fun of me and verbally attacking me. Afterward, of course, I was angry, angry, sad and disappointed. But after seeing my good game and performance, after I won, there were also those who came to congratulate me.
Your dream of basketball, which is your biggest passion, was left unfinished due to the International Basketball Federation's rule prohibiting the headscarf, you were not allowed to play professionally. What kind of processes did you go through at FIBA?
FIBA had a rule that only allowed certain headgear to be worn in a basketball game. Anything larger than an athletic headband is outlawed. After learning the rule, I informed FIBA about the headscarf and why I wear a headscarf while playing. Unfortunately, FIBA was not very interested in my situation and initially said that they wanted to keep the game religiously neutral. I responded by pointing out the many religious tattoos that players display during games. FIBA knew their reasoning was not fair and said that I could hurt myself or other players by wearing a headscarf during the game. In my 10 years of wearing a headscarf and playing basketball, I have never once injured myself or anyone else. 4 years of advocacy and letters signed by professional athletes to force FIBA to cancel the rule... Subsequently, in May 2017, FIBA abolished the rule and allowed headscarves to be played. My war, my struggle, lasted four years. I couldn't play professionally for those four years. My preference has always been for my headscarf. "Come play without a headscarf," they said. I said, "No, I can't give up my headscarf, I can't give up". I could not play basketball professionally in FIBA like other players. That's why I continue my life as a sporting director now.
Did you have any difficulties in America? You are currently coaching at the same time... What would you like to say?
At the moment, I only give basketball training to young girls, Muslim girls. In addition to basketball-specific or sports-specific training for Muslim women between the ages of 5 and 40, we also provide organizations and form teams to support them. Although I had success and awards, I could not participate in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) organizations professionally because of my headscarf. I've been through the pains and negatives of this in the past. However, today, if a Muslim, woman wearing a headscarf goes out in basketball, volleyball, football, or other sports believing in her own faith, the referee says, "Why are you wearing it?" or "You shouldn't be wearing it" because of the headscarf. Sometimes big institutions do not accept and do not allow you to play that match, to participate in that match. No matter how good you are or how successful you are, they say, "Either a headscarf or a game". My advice to young girls is to stay strong and never give up on their beliefs and customs for the meaningless wishes of others.
Former United States President Barack Obama invited you to iftar at the White House during Ramadan in 2009 and presented you with an award. Obama said that because you are an exemplary student and female basketball player, you are an inspiring figure, an inspiration not only to Muslim women but to everyone in this world. Can you describe those moments?
When I received the first invitation from Obama, I really thought it was a false thing, something fake, but later I realized that it was real and I was right next to Obama. He apologized for the past and said, "Come back to your basketball life," and I received my award. It was something to be proud of for me. After Obama's offer, I participated in some games, but at that best time, I couldn't play because of the headscarf. At that moment, of course, I had a test with great disappointment. I even asked questions to God. “Why can't I play with my hijab on?” saying. But now I see that it was meant to be. There is a little good in all evil.
This Muslim basketball player refused to take off her hijab, opening new doors for athletes of other faiths
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/07/us/bilqis-abdul-qaadir-basketball-hijab-trnd/index.html
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